HORTICULTURE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3562, 19 August 1905, Page 4

HORTICULTURE.

FIGHTING INSECTS

Home Valuable Foramina K«raH»J»ed by I*rof. .wayward. Every fruit and plant lias its peculiar insect enemies and fungous diseases. Progressive farmers, gardeners and fruit growers are provided with spraying machinery for overcoming.these pests, and spraying is as much routine work as is cultivation or fertilizing. For fungous pests, because of cheapness, effectiveness and lasting finalities, the bordeaux mixture has superseded all other mixtures. To make it, four pounds of copper sulphate or blue vitriol are dissolved in two gallons of Lot water; or, suspended in a coarse rack in a cask of cold water it will dissolve in a few hours. Caustic or quicklime, four pounds, is then slaked slowly by adding small quantities of water until thoroughly dissolved. When

cooled, the lime wash is poured through a line mesh sieve into the dissolved eo[ per sulphate.. To the mixture is then added 25 to 50 gallons of r. Destruction to fungous is probab.y caused by the copper, which is held i. place by the lime. Should the bordcaus mixture dijligure the fruit, the anv maniacal carbonate of copper should be used and applied often, as it washes easily. Formula; Copper carbonate three ounces, ammonia enough to dissuh e the copper, water 40 gallons. Paris green and kerosene emulsion are. the insecticides in most common use. I’mis green effectually destroys clu wi; g or leaf-eating insects, and is leer, iuu.'.o to injure foliage than lon-, dor. }>•■ Use in water ■ ' Round to 200 gmlona. If lime is r., 1 1, or the jmris green added to theboiihaux mixture. use one pound to 50 gadons. for sucking insects, the kerosene emulsion is unequaled: Dissolve a half-pound of bar soap in two gallons of hot water, and while hot add two gallons of kerosc ne oil and stir until a lard-like substance is formed. When used, dilute with water to 15 or 25 gallons. Insects and. fu:.:;ous growths appear together, hence, . ...;.y combine paris green with the bordcaux mixture, saving half the cost of application. For applying, the pump selected should throw a heavy stream, with considerable force, and yet work with ease. The illustration herewith shows a powerful pump and suitable Sprayer for all ordinary* crops. The barrel is readily mounted on any form of wagon.—Prof. S. T. Maynard, Mass. Agr. College, in Farm and Home.

HORTICULTURAL HINTS. Give the orchard all the potash thatit needs. Coarse, raw manure is not lit for the garden. Toads, frogs and lizards are useful in the garden. The gem melon is the best seller in the market. Prune the quince tree and train it to a single stem. Missouri sold $19,500,000 worth of fruit last year. Extra work in getting a good seed bed pays in garden work. Cut off ail the bruised roots when planting a tree, but do not mutilate the top. A neglected orchard incumbers land that might be used profitably for other purposes. I A late crop of cabbage is easily grown, for the seed can be planted in the open ground. Five acres in cucumbers for pickles 1 will ordinarily pay as much as all the rest of the farm. —'Western Plowman. Feeding Pill* to Plant*. The following note by Mr. Paul, of Cheshunt, on the method employed by M. Georges Truiffent of administering artificial food to plants is of considerable interest to horticulturists. After an analysis of the ash of the living-plant, the necessary salts for a given time, such as six months, are weighed out and enclosed in a metal cover to form what is called a “pill," which is presumably inserted in the pot, diffusion of the salts taking place through the folds of the metal, and the thicker the metal the slower the diffusion. As the salts dissolve and disappear they are replaced by a core which expands until it completely fills the “pill.” The salts have no action on the metal cover which remains firm and hard. It is stated that the solubility of the salts can be so regulated that a “pill” may be made to last three or six months, as may be desired. liy this method of feeding large well-colored plants are grown in pots of less than half the usual size.—Gardeners’ Chronicle. Charcoal for Laws*.

The dark color of charcoal makes it absorb heat, and thus warm the land to which it is applied as a dressing. It may also have considerable manurial value, as the charcoal easily absorbs ammonia, and if soaked in strong manure water from a compost it will carry tie ammonia to the lawn ia less offensive form than ia the manure, which is often used lor that purpose.